"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." -Mark Twain

The Asian window lists him as “among the 10 grumpiest living writers”.

My last trip to India involved 12 flights, staying in 8 different towns / cities, 2 train trips for about 16 hours, many hours in taxis, a good time to think some super-positive and inspiring stuff, buy 12 books at a really good price and read 7 of them on this same trip.

At 98, it is time to hang up his boots, look back and ready for the final journey ahead, he says. But life refuses to let him off the hook.

“I have been writing them for ever 70 years without a break. The truth is that I want to die. I have lived long enough and am fed up with life. I have nothing to look forward to and whatever I want to do in life, I have done. So what is the point of hanging on to life with nothing whatsoever left to do,” Khushwant Singh said Monday in his column, “With Malice Towards One and All”.

He said the only relief he can think of is to recall memories of his past sweethearts.

Despite his frail state of health and wheelchair bound life, the witty “sardar” is as sprightly as ever two years short of a century.

He said nothing gives him greater joy than to admire a pretty face, tickle a quick intellect and enjoy a swig of leisurely whiskey in the evening.

Born in 1915, Khushwant Singh has edited the Yojana, The Illustrated Weekly and The National Herald beside The Hindustan Times. He has written nearly 50 novels and collections of short stories, including the iconic “Train to Pakistan” ~ The Times of India.